DSU Participates in the Final Day of Harriet Tubman Celebration

Posted: March 10, 2013

DSU President Harry L. Williams passes the batons to the first two runners -- DSU students Malik Bazemore and Markland Turner -- to symbolically launch the 14-mile relay run commemorating the path Harriet Tubman took through Delaware to bring slaves to freedom.

Delaware State University gave strong representation at the final day of the “Ten for the Tenth” celebration of Harriett Tubman as the DSU First Family was joined by members of DSU fraternity Iota Phi Theta, the DSU Women’s Track Team, the DSU Alumni Association as well as members of Dover High School for the commemorative relay run event in Kent County.

DSU President Harry L. Williams, along with his wife Dr. Robin Williams and their two sons Austin and Gavin, met the group at Brecknock Park in Camden where the participants gathered to be transported to Sandtown, Del., the starting point of the 14-relay run.

Dr. Williams spoke to the group, commending them on their involvement in keeping the memory of Harriet Tubman alive and talking about the significance of the Underground Railroad's "Moses," and then symbolically passed the batons to the first two runners.

The DSU president ran part of the relay, making the event part of his normal daily run. Dr. Williams is known for beginning each day early in the morning by running five miles around the campus.

The final day of the Ten for the Tenth commemoration marked the 100th anniversary of Harriet Tubman's death, who died on March 10, 1913 in Auburn, N.Y. Ms. Tubman is known for her daring resistance to slavery as the “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, through which she helped countless slaves escape from their southern captivity to achieve their freedom.

Delaware was particularly significant in Ms. Tubman’s journey, as the Underground Railroad came through the First State through Sandtown and Camden and on northward. A similar event was also held in New Castle County, with both events tracking the newly established Delaware Harriet Tubman Byway.

The primary organizers of the final day event in Kent County were Penny Marshall, a retired U.S. public defender, and her parents and DSU alumni Frank and Mary Marshall.